Another Simple Favor (2025) is directed by Paul Feig and written by Jessica Sharzer & Laeta Kalogridis. It stars Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Allison Janney, Henry Golding, Michele Morrone, Elizabeth Perkins, Elena Sofia Ricci, Alex Newell, Andrew Rannells, Bashir Salahuddin, Ian Ho, Joshua Satine, Lorenzo de Moor, Kelly McCormack, and Aparna Nancherla. The film picks up with Stephanie (Kendrick) after the events of A Simple Favor (2018) as she struggles to maintain her newfound, true crime mommy blog. At the release party for her first book, Emily (Lively) arrives, revealing she was recently released from prison and plans on marrying an old flame. Claiming Stephanie was the only true friend she ever had, Emily blackmails her into being her maid of honor. Initially reluctant, Stephanie eventually sees the opportunity as a way to reinvigorate her fading career by following up on the case that made her famous in the first place. When a mysterious death threatens to upend the festivities, Stephanie is forced to crack the case. Has Emily reverted to her old habits, or is something much more sinister at play? 

Regarding the returning cast, not a single performance feels out of line with what they provided in the previous film. Kendrick and Lively slip back into their roles as if it were yesterday and carry over the irresistible, foiled dynamic that’s the core of what makes their relationship so entertaining. Lively’s current, real-life controversies have cast some dark clouds over this film’s release, but that doesn’t change the fact that she’s a talented actress whose abilities are on full display. Instead of simplifying Emily and Stephanie’s relationship to where they act as traditional adversaries (something that would have been natural considering the previous film’s ending), the script doubles down on the idea that these two are inevitably fated to be friends, no matter how unlikely it may seem. Choices such as this naturally lead the film in a more over-the-top direction than its predecessor, but the added fun mostly makes up for the loss of authenticity. 

Returning supporting characters such as Henry Golding’s Sean, Emily’s ex-husband, are fun additions that help provide strong continuity with the previous film. Still, in Sean’s case specifically, I felt an opportunity was missed. Instead of further developing who, besides the two leads, is the most crucial character in the first installment, the script uses him mainly as a cheap plot device. Henry Golding is a strong, charismatic performer with some impressive range, and Sean is a great comic relief character who’s flawed yet likable. I wish he had been given a much juicier role that would’ve easily challenged the other characters in compelling ways, both comedic and dramatic. As for the cast’s only notable new addition, it’s tough to go wrong when choosing to cast Allison Janney. Her natural aura fits perfectly with the film’s controlled, tongue-in-cheek tone, and the character feels like a natural addition to the established world. 

Although this isn’t a disastrous sequel by any means, it lacks most of the careful flourishes that elevated its predecessor. The mismatched genres/tones aren’t as sharply balanced, the intrigue is a lot more one-note, and the plot takes on a far more cliché and therefore predictable structure. This will surely make the film far more accessible to casual audiences, but only in a way that makes the film more disposable/forgettable as opposed to flippant. 

The destination wedding setting has been played to death in the last couple of years, so even though it’s a beautiful place, it’s entirely forgettable. Unlike its predecessor, the twists and turns cannot carry the film on their own, and thus, at the very least, require a level of technical prowess that makes up for the lacking script. 

Overall, this is a lesser yet inoffensive sequel that lacks most of the elements that made its predecessor such a cult classic, but still works as a mid-level comedic crime thriller. The two leads return to their roles with ease, and it’s clear they’re having a lot of fun despite the weaker script. The shift to an over-the-top tone feels like low-hanging fruit, but it does result in some fun surprises, even if they are few and far between. If you enjoyed the first movie, check this out. There’s no way you’ll like it better than that film, but there’s a good chance you’ll have fun regardless of where it stacks up next to it. Even if you end up disliking the experience, I still think it’s worth the gamble for franchise fans. That being said, if you were mixed on the first film, this sequel won’t turn you into a believer. C